Juarez: Children's Lives On The Mean And Deadly Streets

Juarez has become the murder capital of the world, as drug wars spiral out of control and authorities appear helpless to do anything about it.

It's hard enough living there as an adult, but it's a special kind of hell for kids.

About 10,000 of the city's half a million children have been orphaned, a study has found. Almost 250 kids between the ages of 12 and 18 have been murdered in the last two and a half years. No one can guess how many youngsters have witnessed a killing.

Village Voice Media examines the lives of the kids who can't escape Juarez in this week's cover story, "Innocence Lost."